Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2023 - 57

CAREER
DEVELOPMENT
JULIE WINKLE
GIULIONI
FORGING STRONGER CAREERS: TURNING
CHALLENGES INTO GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
If there's any truth to the adage, " The
strongest steel is forged in the hottest
fire, " we must be cultivating the greatest
careers imaginable - because, let's face it,
it's pretty hot out there. Massive reductions
in the workforce in some sectors and
impossible-to-fill positions in others.
Customer demands outstripping supply
chain capacity for some organizations
while others are seeking new markets.
Shrinking tenure and growing employee
expectations. The heat has been turned
up in all corners of the workplace, creating
a hot mess for many.
And yet, when it comes to creating robust
careers, the magic is in that mess. Skills
and abilities might be honed within one's
comfort zone, but significant leaps happen
when we step into the discomfort zone.
That's where the hottest challenges and
richest development opportunities reside.
How can we use the " fire " within today's
workplace to forge stronger careers
- for ourselves and others? Consider
these approaches to turn the heat into
opportunities for career development ...
without getting burned.
PLAY WITH FIRE
Want to immediately distinguish yourself
in the workplace? Play with fire and
volunteer to address a significant, broadly
recognized problem. Raising your hand
for such a challenge telegraphs your
commitment and confidence. It garners
visibility and an expanded network -
sometimes at the highest levels. But
volunteering to do it is just the first step;
then you must deliver results.
That's what Lanya, a learning and
development (L&D) manager did.
After two stalled departmental efforts to
replace an aging learning management
system (LMS), Lanya threw herself into
the fire and offered to lead a crossfunctional
team to evaluate options and
implement the change. Anticipating the
toughest challenge of her career - a
make-it or break-it experience - Lanya
began crafting her project plan. But
wanting to extract optimal professional
development from the experience, she
crafted an equally robust development
plan. Layna isolated the skills that would
ready her for her next role. She identified
the people with whom she wanted to
learn and with whom she needed to
build relationships - and drafted her
team accordingly. She reflected upon
the leadership brand and reputation
she wanted to
cultivate and built-in
opportunities to apply and spotlight
those qualities and characteristics. In the
end, she was right. It was the toughest
assignment of her career - and one
that garnered positive attention and the
skills she was looking for.
STARE INTO THE FIRE
Most of us don't need to actively seek out
challenges in today's workplace; they find
us, presenting themselves organically in
day-to-day work. Reduced budgets. Fewer
resources. Higher expectations. Shorter
timeframes. The heat is already turned up
each day we walk through the door - or
portal - to work. But many employees
are so busy fighting fires that they miss
the opportunity to use those challenges
for growth. " Staring into the fire " refers to
the simple act of reflection. Every day, an
endless stream of lessons washes over us,
going unnoticed and unused because we
don't take the time to just think. Imagine
the power of closing each workday by
asking questions like " What were today's
challenges trying to teach me? " or " What
skills/abilities might have made today
easier or more successful? "
Staring into the fire and reflecting upon
questions like these is likely the most
powerful and budget-neutral way to
grow - in five minutes each day.
LET THE FIRE INSPIRE
And finally, there's a lot to be learned
from evolving challenges and what's
hot
in
the
workplace. Rather
than
sweating the future, forward-focused
employees and leaders are becoming
keen observers of the business
landscape. They're looking around the
corner, allowing current events to help
them understand, predict and prepare
for what's to come. They anticipate
that it's only going to get hotter in the
years ahead. They're allowing the fire
to inspire personal change as they build
the readiness, relationships, resilience
and reputation for future success.
The workplace is hot, hot, hot. And
those who learn to leverage the fire for
development will most certainly forge
careers of steel.
FORWARD-FOCUSED
EMPLOYEES AND LEADERS
ARE KEEN OBSERVERS
OF THE BUSINESS
LANDSCAPE.
Julie Winkle Giulioni is the author of the
bestselling books, " Promotions Are SO
Yesterday " and " Help Them Grow or
Watch Them Go. " Email Julie.
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